Sport

Joe Buck to make it a double

By JIMMIE, STAR Racing Writer

FORMER two-time champion jockey Joe Buchanan should roll back the years tomorrow afternoon by posting a double with ROYAL MATTERS in the first of 10 races and LADY KAMPOOR in the seventh.

Buchanan has been aboard ROYAL MATTERS for her last four races. The three-year-old filly was noted making late headway in her last two outings, finishing second behind ROOMFORTYNINE out of the straight and chased home SIR GOBIN MUNILAL at a mile in her previous race.

Stretched out at 1820 metres, ROYAL MATTERS should go one better and need only fear MICHAEL POWER in the six-horse line-up. When both horses met at a mile behind SIR GOBIN MUNILAL, MICHAEL POWER chased the winner to the final furlong where he was still two lengths clear of ROYAL MATTERS in fourth.

However, ROYAL MATTERS closed strongly for second, rushing past MICHAEL POWER, who weakened into sixth place. Asked to run more than a furlong longer, MICHAEL POWER, with apprentice Kemar Lynch, will be hard-pressed to stave off experienced Buchanan aboard ROYAL MATTERS.

Buchanan should be back in the winners' enclosure aboard LADY KAMPOOR after the third race, another 1820-metre event. Claimed from trainer Barry Rambally by Anthony Nunes as a near nine-length winner early last month, LADY KAMPOOR is on a hat-trick and ought to be followed. She's returning to the same level she romped on June 5.

$2.3m in jackpots

There were no earth-shattering outsiders last Saturday but 9-5 market springer DEFENDANT along with mild upstters such as TOCUMEN at 6-1 and CLASSY TANYA at 3-1 toppled Pick-9 combinations.

A $1.6m carryover starts at the second race, which should be easily won by QUIET GIANT. Bettors taking a shot at the $168,103 Hi-Five carryover to the 1000-metre straight sixth race should look to RUN RIVER RUN, who ran an even third behind RED LADY and MEDIATOR mid-June.

A neat Super-Six banker for a go at the $500,000 guarantee must be FORMULA ONE in the seventh at 1000 metres straight. Last time out the four-year-old gelding ran a big third behind ROYAL MALICE and TOUCH THE POWER on the round course.

Close those bets with MOST WANTED at 1500 metres in the eighth and MINISTER ON WHEELS in the nightpan. MOST WANTED chased home MEDICAL REPORT late last month before the Philip Feanny-trained runner returned to extend BATTLEOX in the Cable and Wireless Bmobile Stakes on St. Leger Day.

MINISTER ON WHEELS was caught stealing home by out of class SIR ABBAS MANGAL at 1500 metres last month. With Simpson sticking around for another crack, a half-furlong shorter should do the trick.